Cabinet desk



J. L. AXEN CABINET DESK Dec. 15 1925. 1,565,247

I Filed Sept. 13, 1925 3 SheelisSheet4 l @d @im Dec. 15, 1925. 1,565,247

` J. L. AXEN- f CABINET DESK Filed Sept. 13, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 15, 1925- J. L. AxEN CABINET DESK Filed sept. 13,. 1925 @sheets-sheet s Fatented Dec. 15, 1952225.

CABINET DESK.

Application filed September 13, 1923.

To ZZ wim/n, t may concer/n.'

Be it known that l', J'oiiiN L. AKEN, al citizen. of the United States, residing at Chicago, 'in the county of `Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and uscfnl improvements in Cabinet Desks, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to cabinet desks.

One of the objects of the invention is to improve desks.

Another object is to provide a vertically movable, enclosed, supporting shelf, operated by movement of the hinged cover, or closure, to produce a relatively large space in the cabinet between the shelf and cover' when the lat-ter is in horizontal or closed position.

A further object is to provide a holder or receptacle for containing stationery, directories, or the like, vertically movable with the shelf to a convenient position by means operated by the cover, which also moves the shelf.

A further object is to provide means for moving one panel of the front wall of the desk cabinet rearwardly, as the shelf moves into operative position, to provide more knee room under the elevated shelf when the latter is raised.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear from a consideration of the following description, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a central vertical section with the cabinet closed.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in positions they occupy when the cabinet is open.

Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. l is a top plan view of the desk with the cover removed showing parts in section.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevation of the latch to hold the parts in position they occupy when the cabinet is open.

Fig. 6 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a broken away plan View or the desk and the swinging stool. or seat in open position.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the desk when open.

In all the views the same reference characters are employed to indicate similar parts.

The desk .or .cabinet may be made Vorne Serial' No. 662,372.

mental and used for enclosing typewriters, telephones, radio-receiving instruments, and the like, which may be elevated into operative position by the mere act of raising the cover on its hinges and which may be entirely obscured from sight and protected from dust by the act of moving the cover back to a closed position.

In manv residences the telephone instruments are considered obtrusive in appearance and objectionable on account of their inartistic and commercial aspect. They are, however, necessary for reason of their convenience. The cabinet is especially adapted for enclosing telephone instruments.

It may be made more ornamental than shown and may be used as a table when not in use for the purpose intended. It will, therefore, be an acceptable piece of furniture for an artistically furnished room. raising the top or cover the instrument may quickly be brought into position, convenient for service and as quickly obscured by returning the cover to closed position.

In the structure shown the cabinet portion 10 consists of four vertical rectangularly disposed walls 11 supported on four legs 12. A cover 13 is hinged to the top of the rear wall 11 at 14;.

A panel 11a is a part of the. front wall 11 hinged thereto at 15 and automatically movable into the cabinet when the shelf 16 is raised, as shown in Fig. 2, to provide more room for the knees of the operator and to present a better appearance when the devicel is not in use.

The shelf is supported on each side by a system of crossed lazy tong levers. A set of two levers 17 and 18 are pivoted together at 19, the free ends 20 and 21 are fixedly pivoted to the shelf 16 and to the side wall 11, respectively. The other two levers 22 and 23 of the set are pivoted together at 24, their free ends 25 and 26 are slidably pivoted to the shelf and to the side wall 11, respectively.

Under each side edge of the shelf near the front are spaced, parallel bars 27 and 28 between which a clip 29 slides. To the clip 29 the end 25 of the lever 22 is pivoted. Pivoted at its upper end 30, to the side wall 11, is a depending link 31 which swings from its pivot and its lower end is pivotally connected to the later-ally moving end 26 of the lever 23. By this arrangement, as the Shel-t 16 is raised or lowered, the ends 25 and 26 move laterally in substantially fixed horizontal planes. The cross lever structure described holds the shelf 16 in a horizontal plane in all of its positions.

The cover 13 is connected to the shelf 16 by a link 3Q.

A receptacle 33 to receive and hold stationery, a directory or other book, is-loeated in the rear of the shelf 16. 1f desired, it may be made to move upwardly when the shelf moves to its uppermost position so that it will be above the shelf and more convenient of access.

A link 34, one on each side, is pivoted to the cover 13, as at 35, the lower end of which is connected to a counter-balancing spring 36 of which there are two, and the springs and links may be connected to the receptacle, as at 237-37.

The springs 36-36 serve as means to substantially balance the load on the shelf thru the links 32 and 84C.

The link 32 has a notch 38 to receive a spring-pressed latch member 39 having a tongue 40 pressed out laterally to engage the notch 3S.

The spring 41 yieldingly holds the tongue 40 of the latch in engagement with the adjacent edge of the link 3Q, so that it will snap into the notch and lirmly hold all the parts in the positions they assume when the shelf is raised.

A chain or cable 113 is connected to the lower ed ge of the panel 11 at 141, and to the lower surface of the shelf 16, at 45, t-o move the kpanel inwardly when the shelf is in elevated position, as shown in Fig. 2.

The shelf is at all times in a horizontal plane and, for this reason, it is especially well adapted for purposes for which inclined shelves are not so well adapted.

A telephone, and pad, in dotted outline are shown on the shelf in Fig. Ll, showing its adaptability for this purpose.

A stool or seat 4K6 having legs 47, 48 and 19 and a cover 50 may be made an attaehable part of the desk when desired. The leg 17 may be hinged to a front leg 1Q of the desk, as at 51, and swung under the eabinet portion of the desk when not in use.

The raising of panel 11 permits the use of the seat when the top 13 is raised.

A stop 52 permits the legs 41-7 and to align with the front legs 12 when the seat is moved inwardly and a spring latch 53 yieldingly holds it in this position.

The legs 47, L18 and 49 are held slightly above the floor by which the desk is supported so that the seat will n'iove freely without dragging over the floor.

rlhe hinges 51 normally support the stool 5() with its legs 47, t6 and 49 above the floor, the spring surrounding the pintle in the spring serving this purpose with the two members of the hinges movable axially of the pintle. The weight yof the person oecnpying the stool will compressthe spring and cause the legs of the stool to rest upon the floor.

This feature of the invention contributes to the useful. convenience of the Amovable stool.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire `to secure by Letters Patent, is

A desk comprising a cabinet, having a l'iinged cover, a hinged two-piece front wall to said Cabinet, means connecting said shelf to said cover for operation of said shelf by said cover, and meansconnecting the lower portion of said front wall to said shelf for inward swinging movement thereby.

ln testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name.

JOHN L. AXEN. 

